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Single-Molecule Investigations of a Photoswitchable Nanodevice

  1. Gregor Heiss1,
  2. Vidmantes Lapiene2,
  3. Florian Kukolka2,
  4. Christof M. Niemeyer2,*,
  5. Christoph Bräuchle1,3,
  6. Don C. Lamb1,3,4,*

Article first published online: 4 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/smll.200801549

Issue

Small

Small

Volume 5, Issue 10, pages 1169–1175, May 18, 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Heiss, G., Lapiene, V., Kukolka, F., Niemeyer, C. M., Bräuchle, C. and Lamb, D. C. (2009), Single-Molecule Investigations of a Photoswitchable Nanodevice. Small, 5: 1169–1175. doi: 10.1002/smll.200801549

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department für Chemie und Biochemie and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstrasse 11, 81377, Munich (Germany)

  2. 2

    Fakultät Chemie, Biologisch-Chemische Mikrostrukturtechnik Technische Universität Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, 44227 Dortmund (Germany)

  3. 3

    Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstrasse 5–13, 81377 Munich (Germany)

  4. 4

    Department of Physics University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1110 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 (USA)

*Fakultät Chemie, Biologisch-Chemische Mikrostrukturtechnik Technische Universität Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, 44227 Dortmund (Germany).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 4 MAR 2009
  3. Manuscript Revised: 5 DEC 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 17 OCT 2008

Funded by

  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). Grant Numbers: Ni-399/6-1/6-2, BR 1027/15-1
  • Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM)
  • LMU-Innovativ BioImaging Network Munich (BIN)

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Keywords:

  • DNA;
  • fluorescent proteins;
  • FRET;
  • nanodevices;
  • single-molecule studies

Abstract

Due to the specificity of Watson–Crick base pairing, DNA is an excellent molecule for the fabrication of nanostructures. It has been shown that DNA can be used as a scaffold for positioning proteins and synthetic molecules with nanometer accuracy. As the next step in adding complexity and functionality to these nanodevices, optical addressability is incorporated. The fluorescent protein Dronpa, which can be optically switched between a fluorescent state and a dark state, is mounted on a DNA scaffold in the proximity of a synthetic fluorophore. Hence, the system can be optically switched between the dark state and an optically active state that undergoes Förster resonance energy transfer. As nanodevices operate as individual units, the functionality of the device is analyzed using single-molecule microscopy. The physical characteristics of nanodevices make them well suited as probes for investigating cellular processes or as shuttles for gene therapy. Hence, the functionality of the nanodevice is verified in the context of cellular measurements.

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